Home of the Week: J.L. and Joy Anderson

B&B dream came true

Feb. 18, 2014

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DONNA BAXTER | PHOTOS BY DAVID WELKER | FOR THE NEWS-LEADER

Images from the Home of J.L. and Joy Anderson on February 3, 2014 in Ash Grove. (David Welker/For the News-Leader) / David Welker/For the News-Leader

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In their quest for a home outside the city, J.L. and Joy Anderson checked out one that sounded interesting in Ash Grove. They fell in love with it the moment they stepped inside.

“The flared staircase landing was one of the first things that caught our eyes. We learned it was originally L-shaped but was modified in the late 1920s or early ’30s,” said J.L.

Joy, from Mount Vernon, and J.L., from Cross Timbers, were married at a bed and breakfast 16 years ago.

“We always loved staying in different B&Bs and wanted to own one,” she said.

The house was perfect. They named it “Eureka Haus” going with the German spelling because early settlers of the area are mainly of that descent.

“Eureka means, ‘I found it,’ so we found our home,” said J.L.

They have lived in and remodeled several Victorians and even tried the new house thing — once.

Joy said, they have an affinity for old houses. “New homes don’t have the character.”

J.L. added that additions give an old house charm as long as they’re done gracefully.

“I’ve basically done everything myself except the foundation and the roofing,” he said.

The home dates from 1891 on a Sanborn map, but J.L. thinks it goes back even farther, probably to the 1880s. Built as a one-room Victorian cottage, a major renovation in 1910 — done by C.B. Comegy, a jeweler and postmaster — made it a folk-Victorian.

An item in the Ash Grove Commonwealth newspaper dated Oct. 27, 1910, said the Comegy family had moved into “one of the finest homes in the city with all the modern conveniences and an indoor bathroom,” which was a big deal in those days.

The Comegy renovation had included the upper floors constructed around the original structure.

By inspecting timbers beneath the floors, J.L. determined the front room was built first. Shortly afterward, an adjoining room (now the office) was added and then the large living room behind.

Downstairs ceilings are still the original height because when J.L. cut into the upstairs floor to do some work, he saw where the original roof joists had been cut when the upper floors were constructed.

Additions to enlarge the front room and kitchen as well as the front porch have been made during the last 30 years. A previous owner laid wood floors in the entire house and installed drywall.

“The first thing we did was build the master bedroom suite on the back for our own use since the house didn’t have a ground-floor bedroom. We wanted to be separate from the inn,” said J.L.

They then began an overall renovation project that included a deck on back.

The second floor has two complete units with another under construction. The third level is an unfinished attic.

When the third unit is finished, they plan to convert the office space on the ground floor into a fourth unit.

“The fireplace, hearth and tile (in lobby) are original, but I’m not sure if it was upgraded in 1910 when they did those additions, or if it’s original to the cottage,” J.L. said. “I can’t figure out why they placed the fireplace right in the middle of the room. Of course, they were in that era where they knew that a chimney surrounded by house draws better.”

Greeting visitors right inside the front door is a grandfather clock made the same year as the first major house addition.

J.L. recalled that when he moved it in and was reattaching the two heavy weights, one unraveled and dropped through the bottom of the clock to the floor.

“I said to it, ‘You last 100-some years and then you break on me?’ ”

Future plans include an outdoor kitchen, gazebo for small weddings, more porches and a balcony off the third floor in a “neat little place where I’ve always wanted to do one,” he said.

An avid gardener who also loves landscaping, J.L. has set out about 30 trees and has designs in mind for several more flower beds.

A storm shelter in the basement is complete with an outside entry as well as a secret inside entrance. The rest of the basement is unfinished, he said.

J.L. works full time at Eureka Haus. Joy is regional vice president and an independent consultant with Arbonne, a health and wellness business. They have a married daughter, Savannah.